Hearts with Hands is a local non-profit and non-denominational Christian organization. With the help of volunteers, the organization assists victims of poverty, natural disaster and famine.

Greg Lentz, President of Hearts with Hands, says that the organization tries to help with any natural disaster by providing necessities to the victims.

“We always try to respond to help by what we do is we give food, water, food boxes, water, hygiene kits, baby items, diapers, all kinds of necessities,” Lentz said.

The organization helps provide for people in need around the area of Buncombe County as well. “Box of Hope” is an example of the organization’s outreach to individual homeless students in Buncombe County. Through the program, over 350 students in need are provided with food and hygiene products. Not only does the organization help support of local community, but also assists other cities and towns with providing relief for natural disasters and famine.

“This past year, we responded to the flood in West Virginia, the flood in Baton Rouge and to the floods that hit down east,” Lentz said.

Hearts with Hands simultaneously responded recently to the wildfires at Rock Mountain, Camp Branch, and Pinnacle Mountainby feeding the fire fighters and the emergency responders throughout their time spent fighting the fires.

According to Hearts with Hands’ website, with the help of volunteers, they transported supplies to the to the fire and rescue teams including 1,000 meals a day for two weeks to those personnel.

Through Hearts with Hands’ community outreach, they have been able to drastically impact the lives of those in need, locally and nationally. According to Lentz, Past victims of natural disaster often times follow the organization to a new area of disaster to give back to another community in need.

“People come to me and say, ‘Hey you helped us and we want to go help somebody else’s community that went through what we went through,’” Lentz said.

Diana Childress

I am a Senior at T.C. and it is my third year in the communications class. The pas two years I have primarily done broadcast journalism. Although journalism is not something I would like to do for a living, I have a strong passion for the people in the class, our productions, and all that we do. I currently ride and compete with the Poplar Ridge Equestrian Team. Most of my time is spent training my horse and doing things for this class. Both of which i take very seriously. I look forward to finishing off my senior year with being a part of the Golden Fleece Media Group.